At the start of this season, the Bombers were the league's biggest unknown, with 10 players back from a year-long doping ban and a bunch of newer faces thrown in.

That Essendon overcame those odds to become the fifth VFL/AFL team since 1923 -- and the first since West Coast in 2011 -- to make the finals one year after claiming the wooden spoon is an immense source of pride.

"(The loss) doesn't impact anything," Worsfold said.

"There's been massive gains made by the whole footy club in so many areas.

"We lost today against a very good team. We came down to the wire in terms of making the eight ... so it was a bit of a mismatch in terms of experience and finals nous."